Sports
Will Adrian Gonzalez Become the First Ex-Cougar to Be Named Major League MVP?
Cougars plays continue to make it big in the big leagues.
Will Adrian Gonzalez become the first ex-Cougar to be named MVP?
Here's some alumni news, courtesy of the Kane County Cougars. The following includes statistics through Aug. 30.
Oakland catcher Anthony Recker became the 114th former Cougar to reach the big leagues after debuting last week with the A’s. The ’06 Cougar recorded his first Major League hit on Aug. 27 against Boston and is the third Cougars alumnus to make a MLB debut this season.
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Recker joins A’s infielder Jemile Weeks (’08) and Dodgers infielder Justin Sellers (’06). Weeks is currently fourth in the AL with eight triples.
A trifecta of ’09 Cougars have each hit 10 or more home runs and 50+ RBI for Double-A Midland (A’s) this season: infielders Steve Parker, Mike Spina and outfielder Jeremy Barfield.
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Pitcher Travis Banwart (’07-’08) has made a team-high 24 starts at Triple-A Sacramento (A’s). Outfielder Michael Choice (’10) is one home run away from reaching 30 round trippers at Class-A Advanced Stockton (A’s). Stockton infielderConner Crumbliss (’09-’10) hit for the cycle recently, becoming the second Stockton player and former Cougar to accomplish the feat this season, joining Kent Walton (’10).
Boston infielder Adrian Gonzalez (’01) has the second-most RBI in Major League Baseball (103) and leads MLB in batting average (.342) and hits (184). Gonzalez, who was the 2001 Midwest League MVP while a Cougar, is attempting to be named the first-ever regular season AL or NL MVP in Cougars franchise history.
Tigers infielder Miguel Cabrera (’01) is fifth in MLB with a .327 batting average and is attempting to hit .300 or better for the sixth season in his nine-year big-league career.
New York Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett (’98) is one win away from winning 10+ games for the ninth time in his big league career. Former Midwest League MVP and current Triple-A Salt Lake Bees (Angels) third baseman Jeff Baisley (’06) is three RBI away from reaching 100 RBI for the first time since his Midwest League MVP season of ’06 with the Cougars. Former Cougars pitcher Joe Newby (’06) is at Triple-A Albuquerque (Dodgers) and has pitched in 23 games. (Statistics through games played on Aug. 30.)
This article is courtesy of the Kane County Cougars.
